James Franco: Style Icon

Douche Or Icon?

Why He's A Style Icon

James Franco is the definition of cool: brooding good looks shrouded in a healthy sense of mystery. He seems like the kind of guy who would have been the loner/bad boy type in high school and the first to smoke a cigarette (among other things). True to form, Franco manages to maintain a relatively low profile to match his dark exterior. However, in just a short decade on screen, the 32-year-old actor has racked up a modest list of accomplishments including a Golden Globe for Best Actor (playing, not surprisingly, the elusive James Dean) and a slew of nominations for his portrayal of Scott Smith in the critically acclaimed film Milk. All of this, however, hasn’t been enough to satiate Franco’s appetite. While he doesn’t appear to have aspirations of building an Ashton Kutcher empire of Nikon digital cameras and a Twitter account with followers that outnumber the populations of some small African countries, this actor is still paving a path to success. Franco is a skilled painter who has publicly exhibited his artwork, and he admirably graduated from UCLA years after finding fame. Recently, he headed east to pursue additional studies at Columbia and NYU.

So, Franco may have acting ability and academic aptitude, but what about style savvy? Just ask Gucci. The quintessential Italian label made him its poster boy for the release of a new men’s fragrance. The black-and-white advertisement, despite being so over-the-top that it could easily pass for a Saturday Night Live spoof, attempts to be timeless like the handsome actor himself. Perhaps the most surprising thing about using Franco for the campaign is that he isn’t a Gucci guy. His penchant for humor (Knocked Up and Pineapple Express spring to mind) is a world away from his physical likeness to James Dean. And that’s a great thing, because whether he’s wearing a tee or a tuxedo, it’s what makes Franco’s fashion feel accessible.

Dress The Franco Way

This guy is a fan of formal wear. Despite being reminiscent of a more brazen biker type, Franco is at times more partial to suiting up than dressing down. But he does it all with a casualness that is both easy and age appropriate. Rather than going the rocker route with minuscule lapels and super-skinny slacks, he opts for flashier peak lapel jackets and trousers that aren’t whittled down to a toothpick tip. When Franco isn’t decked out, his laid-back looks are equally effortless. The archetypal V-neck tee or an everyday plaid button-down shirt paired with jeans and, of course, the right jacket — admittedly in Dean-esque leather — are the defining elements of his imitable style.